Ciao,

I will be visiting Rome for the first time in September. I will need a room for 9 nights. I would like to stay near the Piazza Navova. I would like a large room with a nice view and access to a terrace. I would also like a nice bathroom with a tub and shower. Because it will be my first time in Rome and because I am traveling alone, it is important to me that I find a hotel that will make me feel welcome and has staff that will be helpful in arranging tours, etc. Security and safety is very important to me.

I expect to pay $125 - $150. I've considered apts, but I don't think that I'll get personalized service in an apt. It's important to me to be near shopping and nightlife.

I have searched every travel site and I am more confused than ever. I've sent emails to a few hotels that look promising. I've only heard back from one, Hotel Navona told me "We don't think that our hotel fits you for all these requests. We invite you to look for a different place."

Does anyone have any recommendations?

You might be asking for too many amenities for your price range. To have a tub and shower would be unusual. A view and access to a terrace is probably not feasible in the Centro Storico which is where Piazza Navona is located. It's a very dense area.

I wouldn't get hung up on location. Go for security, staff and price range.
Do a search on this forum for "Rome hotels," and you'll find an enormous number of recommendations...

I was glad to see you're planning nine days. We were there for nine days last October and had a great time even though we still have a list of things we want to see. Have fun!

mizzeve - I am also looking for hotels during this time frame- check this out for your area
( disclaimer: i have never been there )

http://www.venere.com/cgi/hotels/pgw...iate_user_id=0

the reviews seem good

http://www.venere.com/cgi/feedback/f...iate_user_id=0

but once you start with the name you could get better understanding of the place and read reveiws etc - good luck

Have you tried Santa Chiara? I have not stayed there yet, but my families booked there the end of July. It may have what your looking for as well as a better rate in Sept.

MizzEve,
you're certainly asking for quite alot...September is high season in Rome so you'll have to be prepared to pay "top dollar"...you'll also find alot of places have a shower but no bath.

However, I do have a suggestion that might work for you. My husband, brother and myself stayed at the Pantheon View B and B last December...the rooms are a reasonable size, certainly large for one person, all but one of the rooms have pretty balconies and views over the roofs, narrow streets or the Pantheon roof, sorry showers but no baths.

The location is fabulous, very safe, and about 5 minutes to the Piazza Navona. You can book the place through venere.com The B and B is on the upper floors of an elegent older residential building and you are given a key to let yourself come and go and you please. I posted a trip report on it so you can find more detailed info on the pluses(location and terrace) and minuses (almost no public space, rooms noisier near breakfast nook) by doing a search.

The Mrs Cohen who runs the B and B is very plesant but "efficient"...I don't know how helpful they would be in terms of tours/restaurant reservations etc. as we didn't ask them for this kind of help.

However, for concierge style help and tours I would highly recommend you consider Scala Reale...there are alot of recommendations on the board that you can search for. If you sign up for a walking tour with Scala Reale they will also help you with restaurant recommendations, reservations and advice. They'll give you the office and a cell phone number with an English speaker on the other end who is very helpful.

They ensured that a welcome packet with maps and lots of useful stuff was at Pantheon View when we arrived. We used them for restaurant advice and reservations as well as to make reservations for the Domus Aurea...I can't recommend them highly enough although the walks (which are very small) are expensive.

I hope that helps. In terms of the terrace and view you could also consider a hotel that has a roof terrace with view.

The Santa Chiara is a gem all the way around. Lovely rooms, great staff and perfectly located.

Albergo del Senato is another safe bet.

Hi, a coworker and her husband just came back from Rome and stayed a few days at Hotel Genio (booked on venere.com also) nearby Pza. Navona. They were not too pleased because the a/c unit was broken. They had to ask to have it repaired. No, she would not recommend this hotel.

Judging by the many great reviews here you won't go wrong booking at Albergo del Senato or the Santa Chiara.

A comfortable hotel can make one's stay much more pleasant.

I suggest that the

Grazie for all of the recommendations. Interestingly, I emailed the Santa Chiara yesterday. They quoted me E175,000 per night. Their website & venere quote e150,000 max for a single. I wonder what the price difference is for.

Also, does anyone know if Del Senato has a website?

Hi, I found a website address for Albergo del Senato:www.albergodelsenato.it

Within the website is their email address: [email protected]

There is a hotel that meets all but one of your requirements, The Raphael. A room there, large, with tub and shower and small terrace overlooking the roofs of the neighborhood will cost at least 400 Euro per night. Our Senior Suite at the Del Senato had a large terrace with great view, a tub and seperate shower stall and the rooms were of good size. However, that room was 465 Euro per night. I'm not sure if the double rooms at the Del Senato have the same bathroom arrangement but many have balconies overlooking Piazza della Rotunda. But doubles at the Del Senato in September could be around 200 Euro or more per night.

HI!
I have never been to Rome myself, I am planning to go in April'04, so I have been looking at hotels. I keep finding this particular one, which looks really promising and is center of everything. Here is there site: www.hoteldesartistes.com
Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

Go on Venere.com & look up Hotel Della Torre Argentina. They just gave me an offer of 5 nights & airport transfers for 500 EU for a single (in the summer).
Also, the B&B Relais Banchi Vecchi found on www.romeby.com looks great.

Good luck!